Power driven operating means for extensible and retractable aerials



April 18, 1944.

E. CARLSON POWER DRIVEN OPERATING MEANS FOR EXTENSIBLE AND RETRACTABLE AERIALS Filed Oct. 20, 1941 INVENTOR EMIL cALsoN Patented Apr. 18, 1944 POWER DRIVEN OPERATING MEANS FOR EXTENSIBLE AND RETRACTABLE AERIALS Emil Carlson, Detroit, Mich. Application October 20, 1941, Serial No. 415,674

2 Claims.

This invention relates to telescoping radio antennae, and operating means therefor, and is particularly concerned with the provision of improved means, of simple, compact, rugged and foolproof character, whereby telescoping antenna sections and the like may be operated, to extend and retract the same, the operation being eontrollable from a remote point if desired, and the arrangement being such as to provide quick operation of the parts.

Another object is to provide such a power-operating mechanism which is so arranged that no damage can be done to the operating parts if the antenna is retracted or extended by hand, or in event of an attempt to drive it beyond the fully extended or retracted portion by means of the power actuating mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein referonce is made to the accompanying drawing illustrating preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the the several views.

In the drawing:

Fig. i is a fragmentary side elevational view oi. the front portion of a motor car, showing the same provided with an aerial constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in substantially central longitudinal section and partly in side elevation, showing the aerial on a larger scale and indicating the manner of installation thereof.

Fig. :i is an enlarged substantially diametrie oi the driving mechanism and, adjacent parts.

Fig. i a cross section taken substantially on. the line i e of F g. 3, and looking in the direc= tion of the arrows.

Fig. 5 a fragmentary sectional detail of the gripping portions oi the driving jaw members, showing the manner in which they engage the actuating cable; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line ti -5 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, reference character l0 designates the tender of a motorcar, which is illustrated as supporting the entire antenna and its driving mechanism, although it will readily be appreciated that the antenna itself might be located or supported in any other desired position or manner, and that the extensible and retractable sections might in fact be in- .ing about its own axis, and

tended to serve as a mast or support or the like rather than as an antenna.

The illustrated antenna is formed in three sections, the lowermost of which, designated 12, is fixed, while the two telescoping sections i3l4 are slidable therein, and retained against unwanted separation by reduced neck portions as l5-I6 and cooperating enlarged ends (undesignated) in the usual manner.

The section l2, constituting a basic support section, is fast at its lower end in a short sleeve l3, which is threaded at its top to receive the clamping nut 20. A shouldered bushing 25, formed of insulating material, and a coacting insulating washer 25, are fitted over the sleeve i8 and adapted to be clamped, when the nut 20 is tightened, to retain the assembly in position upon the fender ill in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Secured to the lower end of the sleeve i8 is a supporting bracket 28 of inverted U-form, the depending legs of which carry the electric motor 30. The motor shaft 33 is axially aligned with the telescoping antenna sections, and is hollow. The motor is of the reversible type.

A flexible cable 36, of the variety having a helically coiled external wrapping, of wire or the like, is attached to the topmost antenna section M, and extends downwardly through the other sections, and through the hollow motor shaft, into a cylindrical casing 453 secured to and depending from the motor. Enough of the flexible cable is provided to enable extension of the antenna, and the lower end of the cable is made fast to the inner periphery of the can do, as means of the clamp ill. The clamp 37 holds the wire or cable 35 tightly, to prevent it from twistthe wire projects in such direction that it tends to coil itself within the can, as shown in Fig. 2.

Fixed upon the motor shaft in the space between the motor and the bottom of th antenna assembly is a driving mechanism, best shown in Fig. 3, consisting of a hollow body portion St, the upper portion of which is slotted, as at 5 i, to permil; the cable 35 to pass freely therethrough and to receive a pair of pivoted drivers, each of which consists of an integral nyweight section and a nose portion 56 having a partly cylindrical and threaded inner surface adapted to engage the surface of the cable. The supporting pivot pin El of each driver is arranged transversely between the nose and flyweight sections, in such manner that the nose portion, which is provided with threads corresponding to and adapted to interfit with the helical configuration of the exterior of the cable formed by the wrapping, may move to and from engagement with such surface. The fly weight sections are heavier than the nose sectlons, and farther from the center of rotation, so that rotation of the motor shaft tends to throw the flyweight sections outwardly, forcing the threaded nose sections 56 inwardly and against the wire wrapping, pressure being maintained in this fashion to raise or lower the antenna, as the case may be. Centrifugal pressure may be augmented, if desired, by an endless spring 6d wrapped around and tending to contract the nose portions.

In event the antenna sticks, or is held, or is manipulated by hand, or if an attempt is made to drive the antenna beyond the end of its movement, the toothed nose portions simply ratchet over the helical cable winding, the drivers rocking on their pins 57.

A source of current ti and operating switch 62 are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2. A spring 6d tends to center the switch, which is movable to one contact marked Up" to raise the antenna, and to another contact marked Dn to turn the motor in the reverse direction, to lower the antenna. The direction of rotation of the motor in lowering the antenna is such as to tend to coil the cable in the can, and vice-versa, I

have found that the cable will in this manner coilitself in and uncoil from the container without tangling or catching.

It is to be noted that although the lower end of the cable is held against twisting, the upper end is free to turn. This turning or twisting of the upper end of the cable may take place either asaaras I claim:

1. Means for actuating a desired element longitudinally, comprising in combination with a flexible cable secured at its end to said element and having ahelical surface configuration, a container into which said cable may be coiled, means for securing the other end of the cable in the container and against unwanted twisting about its longitudinal axis, a power source, driving nut means comprising oppositely arranged pivoted arms each carrying threads on its inner face at one end and weighted at its other end whereby centrifugal action may move the threaded faces toward the cable and engage the helical surface thereof, said driving nut means being rotatable by the power means but held against longitudinal movement with the cable, whereby upon rotation of said nut means the cable and the actuated element attached thereto may be moved longitudinally, the cable being concomitantly moved into or out of the container, depending upon the di= rection of rotation of the nut means, that portion of the cable engaged by said nut means being rotatable about its own axis suficiently to permit coiling and uncoiling of the cable within the container, and the nut means being arranged to turn in a direction tending to coil the cable when movwith or independently of the section I4, and occurs to the extent which'is necessary to enable coiling and uncoiling of the portion in the container All. In the shown construction the cable is fast in the section M, and the latter is rotatable in the section l5, although this is a matter of choice.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

ing the cable into the container, and in a direction tending to uncoil the cable when moving the cable out of the container.

2. Means for actuating a cable having a helical surface configuration longitudinally into and out of a coiled condition without rotating the coil bodily, comprising a fixed container in which the cable is adapted to lie in substantially circular coils, means for securing one end of the cable in the container and against unwanted turning about its own axis, a driving nut comprising threaded members centrifugal movable into engagement with the helical surface configuration oi the cable and rotatable thereabout, means for holding the nut against longitudinal movement, whereby rotation of the nut drives the cable iongitudinally into and out of the container, while twisting the cable sufilciently to coil and/or uncoil the same, the axis of rotation of the nut be 

